What to Eat When Sick

What to eat when sick? Often we hear sick foods are: bread, crackers, juice.

The problem with those is that health is in the gut. Sugar feeds bad bacteria which feeds illness. Bread, crackers and juice all are sugars when broken down which feed the bad bacteria and continue the cycle.

But what do you do when you feel like poop and just need something easy to digest and settle your tummy?

What to Eat When Sick

My favorite whole foods for wellness are:

Sourdough bread- the bread is already fermented so the gluten is broken down. Its actually even easier to digest and longer lasting in the body than regular white bread so it maintains the glucose levels more stable. Especially good when you aren’t eating much (also good for diabetics).

Sprouted Rice: Rinsing the rice until clear allows for the starchiness to be rinsed off. DO NOT COOK THE RICE IN WATER! Cook the rice in BROTH. Broth is an incredibly healing food. It heals inflammation in the gut which affects the whole body. It also breaks down the rice that there is more flavor and easy to eat. Sprouted Rice is also broken down so you can digest it easier. (Learn more here)

What I love to add to the Rice is MISO. So before you serve the rice; add a little more broth and about 1tsp to 1Tbsp (Depending on if you’ve had it before and how salty you like it) to the broth and mix it all in. It adds a great flavor to the rice. The miso has amazing probiotics in it that will help feed the gut and support the immune system.

Organic Applesauce is still a great food. However make sure that it has no added sugar. Adding a little cinnamon is good if they can handle or want any flavor.

HOMEMADE BONE or MEAT BROTH- This is just one of the best things you can eat when sick. It’s been said for centuries but in reality it holds so many glorious trace minerals, hydration, reduces inflammation, and is just enough flavor to be palatable when you just feel yucky. Add some salt; salt is needed for the electrolytes and imbalances that happen when sick.

Potatoes- Potatoes get such a bad wrap! But they are such an AMAZING food. There’s actually a nutritionist who went on a potato diet for a year to study if you could get all the nutrients you need from potatoes. Spoiler alert; you can. But not necessary. When you are sick and just want something easy; potatoes are amazing. Red and yellow potatoes are sweeter and a little easier to eat on their own without toppings or just a little salt; so I usually use those. You can mash them, eat them whole, you can vary how they are served which also helps keep some variety if you are sick for a few days. Was amazing when I got a cold when pregnant and had no appetite for three days. I could vary the potatoes and I knew I was getting enough nutrition until I was well again. Also super easy to make. You can wash and throw a whole bag in the crockpot and simply cook for four hours. Don’t even need to add water. Awesome and easy.

When my kids are sick we make sure to ex sugar for at least a week after illness to make sure that wellness has taken hold and the gut bacteria can get back into balance.